Prior Signs With Padres

Ah, some real news. ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that the Padres have reached an agreement with Mark Prior. It’s a one-year deal with a low $1MM base. Olney says incentives could bring the total past $3MM, which is still a very reasonable gamble. Now Prior can rebuild his value in a great pitcher’s park and re-enter free agency in a year. Click here to read about the specific shoulder damage Prior had repaired.

Prior is throwing on flat ground currently, and there’s talk of mid-May. I think three solid months out of Prior would be more realistic, though. The Padres’ rotation will contain two ex-Cubs, Prior and Greg Maddux. With Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Randy Wolf on board, the rotation is certainly impressive on paper.